Paddle for propelling small boats



(No Model.) V

M. MGCLOSKEY.

PADDLE FOR PROPELLING SMALL BOATS.

No. 514,489. Patented Feb. 13, 1894.

Unrrsn STATES PATENT Fries.

MOSES MCOLOSKEY, OF COOHRANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PADDLE FOR PRO PELLI NG SMALL BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,489, dated February 13, 1894.

Application filed July 29, 1893. Serial No. 481,862. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that 1, Moses MCCLOSKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coch-' ranville, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Paddle for Propelling Small Boats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to marine propulsion and has special reference to hand-operated paddles for propelling small boats.

The objects of my invention are the production of a paddle of cheap and simple construction, the same being so arranged or located as to act as a ballast for the boat, and to be adapted to be readily operated by handpermitting the occupant to'face toward the bow and thus more readily steer the boat, and to gain a maximum speed with a minimum exertion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawingsz liigure 1 is a tranverse sectional view of one side of an ordinary working-boat, the same being provided with a paddle constructed in accordance with my invention, together with means for operating the paddle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view in detail of the paddle. Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view, the blades being open. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the blades closed. Fig. 5 isa detail in perspective of the front guard, the blades removed. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of one of the blades.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

What I term the front guard or flu 1 is a stationary blade, the same being tapered from its back edge or butt to its front edge, the reduction forming a knife to offer but little resistance to the water as the guard is forced therethrough. From the upper and lower ends of the guard there extend rearward projections 2 andi3, respectively, the upper projection havin a tenon lformed on its'rear end, and the latter projection having a mortise 5 formed vertically therein.

6 designates a vertical rod, the same having above its lower end a transverse mortise 7 that fits over the tenon 4L and is bolted thereto indicated at 8. The lower end of the rod is reduced to form a tenon 9, which fits in the mortise 5, as shown, and does not require any fastening means, in that the upper projection 2 prevents it from rising.

A pair of blades 10 is employed, said blades being of similar shape and gradually reduced upon their exteriors from their frontedges to their rear edges and having their upper or outer portions curved or cut away. These blades are each provided at their inner sides and at their rear edges with metal plates 11, which at intervals have formed thereon eyes 12, the eyes of one plate being located at variance with those of the other plate, so that when the two blades are assemhled the eyes interlock and form a hinge. The rear edges of the stationary blade or front guard 1 is provided with a pair of grooves 13, and in these grooves are seated the rear edgesof the blades 10. The eyes of the blades align vertically with perforations in the extensions 2 and 3, and through these perforations and the eyes a vertical pintlerod 14 is removably inserted, upon which the blades may freely oscillate or swing.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention reference is had to Fig. l of the drawings, wherein 15 designates the shell or hull of a small boat.

Above the mortise 7 the rod 6 is extended to a point opposite the gunwale of the boat, at which point it is disposed inward forming a rock-shaft 17, journaled in a bearing 16, with which the gunwale is provided. The inner end of this shaft is disposed to form a crank-handle 18, by which the paddle maybe operated. Of course the shaft, handle and rod need not be formed integral, but separately and suitably joined.

The operation of the invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, and may be briefly stated as follows The operator simply swings the crank 18 backward and forward, and as the paddle moves forward the stationary blade 1 cleaves the water, the movable blades 10 being closed by the pressure of the water against their outer sides, so that they form practically continuations of the blades, and thus are forced edgewise through the water. When the paddle has reached the limit of its front stroke and begins to move backward the water entering between the inner faces of the blades 10 causes them to swing outward at an obtuse angle to each other, and thus form an angu lar pocket which presses against the body of water and thus forces the craft forward. The blades are limited in their outward swing by the outer back edges of the stationary blade 1. A paddle thus constructed it will be seen is never out of the water, and therefore acts as a ballast to steady the craft and prevent rocking; and, furthermore, the strokes of the paddle are more regular than the ordinary ears and the angular pocket formed at the rear edge of each paddle acts with greater force on the body of water in rear thereof, so that with a minimum amount of energy I secure a maximum amount of power and the craft may be forced through the water at a tensions, at its upper and lower ends having perforations, the upper extension terminating in a tenon and the lower extension provided with a mortise, and an operating rod mortised to receive the tenon and tenoned to receive the mortise, of a pair of blades having a series of eyes aligning with each other and with the perforations in the extension, and a vertical pintle-rod passing through the perforations in the extensions and through the aligning eyes, substantially as specified.

2. In a paddle, the combination with a front vertical blade, tapered toward its front edge and provided in rear of the same with extensions and between the extensions having its rear edge provided with a pair of grooves, of a pair of blades having aligning eyes seated in the grooves, a pintle passed through the extensions and through the eyes, a rod in rear of the blades connecting the extensions, a transverse rock-shaft, a crank-handle for the rock-shaft, and connecting means between the outer ends of the rock-shaft and the said rod, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MOSES MOOLOSKEY. Witnesses:

DAVID BARB, MILTON SNEAD. 

